Recurrent polyserositis ("periodic disease," "familial Mediterranean fever") in children

A series of 19 cases of recurrent polyserositis is presented. All but one child were of Oriental Jewish parentage, and the disease sometimes showed a familial occurrence. The average age of onset was 4 years. The symptoms consisted of fever; abdominal, chest, and joint pains; and skin eruptions. The clinical manifestations often simulated those of acute rheumatic fever, particularly since cardiac murmurs occurred in more than half of the patients. The laboratory findings were those accompanying nonspecific inflammations such as leukocytosis, accelerated enythrocyte sedimentation rate, elevated antistreptolysin titer, and positive C-reactive protein. Though some patients showed transitional albuminunia, no cases of amyloidosis were found. The difference in the clinical manifestations in children as compared with adults, and possible etiological factors are discussed.